The X-Pole is made up of tubes (the actual pole surfaces) that connect together with X-Joints. The X-Joint is basically another, slightly narrower tube that you put inside the main pole pieces. There are holes in the main pole pieces and in the X-Joint. You put the X-Joint inside the pole pieces, line up all the holes and then use a wrench to expand the X-Joint inside the main poles. It expands and holds the outer pole pieces in position so they become one rigid piece. To take the pole apart, you twist the wrench the other way to tighten (shrink) the X-Joint enough to pull the pieces apart again.

Over time, an X-Joint can loosen up as you use the pole and rotate in place. If it loosens up enough to rotate inside the main pole pieces, then the holes won't line up anymore and you can't remove the joint the normal way. You then have to ram a broomstick into the pole to remove it (no joke, this is what Xpole recommends to do on their website.) This problem can be prevented with careful attention, and really you should be checking your pole every time you use it for safety's sake. Plenty of people never experience this issue, and I only had it happen once in over a year of use. But if you can get away with a one piece pole, it's one less problem to be concerned with!